KING HENRY VIII
 Henry VIII did not really plan to break away
from the Catholic Church.
 He was not happy with the reformation
done by some concerned persons.
 he earned the title “Defender of the Faith”
when he wrote an essay against the
Lutherans.
 Henry ’ s elder brother, Arthur, married
Catherine of Aragon, which sealed the
alliance between Spain and England.
 Arthur died four months after the wedding.
It was agreed to have Catherine marry
Henry who was then heir to the English
throne.
 Since the Church law forbade the marriage
of a man to his brother ’ s widow, it was
necessary to get a dispensation (an
exception from church law) from the pope.
The pope granted the dispensation.
 marriage was not a success.
 Five of six children died and the surviving
child and heir to the throne was a girl, Mary
Tudor.
 Henry convinced himself that the failure to
produce a male heir was a divine
intervention.
“ Its all in the execution.”
MARTIN LUTHER
 Luther was a German theologian whose
writings inspired the Protestant
Reformation.
 born Nov. 10 1483 in Eisleben.
 died Feb. 18 1546 in Eisleben.
 He moved to annul his marriage on the
ground that the pope should not have
granted a legal dispensation. The pope
refused to grant the annulment.
 The annulment would have allowed Henry
to marry another woman and produced
more heirs.
 Henry submitted his case to the universities
for their judgment and ruling and
universities favored Henry that lead him to
dump Catherine and married Anne
Boleyn.
 Henry argued that Leviticus 21:14 forbade
a man from marrying his brother’s widow.
 He forced the clergy of England to submit
to him. This started his breakaway from the
Catholic Church.
 The final break came when in 1534 the
English parliament passed the Supremacy
Act which made Henry the supreme head
of the English Church.
 He eventually suppressed and seized the
properties of the monasteries and sold
them to rich laities to raise funds for the
royal treasury. Henry married four more
women.
 His father was a copper mine.
 studied at the University of Erfurt,
 1505 decided to join a monastic order,
becoming an Augustinian friar
 ordained in 1507, began teaching at the
University of Wittenberg
 1512 was made a doctor of Theology.
 1510 visited Rome on behalf of Augustinian
monasteries, and was appalled by the
corruption he found there.
 Luther became angry about the clergy
selling indulgences
 indulgences–promised remission from
punishments for sin, either for someone still
living or for one who had died and was
believed to be in purgatory.
 Oct 31 1517, he published his 95 Theses,
attacking papal abuses and the sale of
indulgences.
 Luther had come to believe that Christians
are saved through faith and not through
their own efforts. This turned him against
many of the major teachings of the Catholic
Church.
 1519 –1520, he wrote a series of
pamphlets developing his ideas (On
Christian Liberty,On the Freedom of a
Christian Man,To the Christian Nobility’
and On the Babylonian Captivity of the
Church)
 Thanks to the printing press, Luther’s ’
95 Theses’ and his other writings spread
quickly through Europe.
 Jan. 1521, the Pope Leo X
excommunicated Luther. He was then
“GOD DOESN’T LOVE US BECAUSE OF OUR WORTH.
WE ARE OF WORTH BECAUSE GOD LOVES US.”
summoned to appear at the Diet of Worms,
an assembly of the Holy Roman Empire.
 He refused to recant and Emperor Charles
V declared him an outlaw and a heretic.
Luther went into hiding at Wartburg
Castle.
 1522, he returned to Wittenberg and in
1525 married Katharina von Bora, a
former nun. With whom he had six
children.
 Luther then became involved in the
controversy surrounding the Peasants War
(1524 -1526), the leaders of which had
used Luthers arguments to justify their
revolt. He rejected their demands and
upheld the right of the authorities to
suppress the revolt, which lost him many
supporters.
 1534, published a translation of the bible
into German, underlining his belief that
people should be able to read it in their
own language. The translation contributed
significantly to the spread and development
of the German language.
 Luther’s influence spread across northern
and eastern Europe and his fame made
Wittenberg an intellectual center.
 In his final years he wrote polemics
against the Jews, papacy and Anabaptists,
a radical wing of the reforming movement.

THE SCANDAL OF THE THREE POPES

Western Schism, also called Great Schism or Great Western Schism or in simpler terms the Scandal
of the Three Popes, in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, the period from 1378 to 1417, when
there were two, and later three, rival popes, each with his own following, his own Sacred College of
Cardinals, and his own administrative offices. Shortly after the return of the papal residence to Rome
following almost 70 years of the Avignon papacy, the archbishop of Bari was elected pope as Urban
VI amid demands by the Roman populace for“a Roman or at least an Italian.”Urban VI proved to be
hostile to the cardinals, who had assumed great powers during the years at Avignon, that a group of
cardinals retired to Anagni and elected one of themselves, Robert of Geneva, as Clement VIII,
claiming the election of Urban VI had been invalid because it was made under fear. Clement VII then
took up residence at Avignon.Although Roman Catholic Church historians generally agree that
Urban VI and his successors were the legitimate popes, there has never been an official
pronouncement to this effect. The double election had disastrous effects upon the church. The
followers of the two popes were divided chiefly along national lines, and thus the dual papacy
fostered the political antagonisms of the time. The spectacle of rival popes denouncing each other
produced great confusion and resulted in a tremendous loss of prestige for the papacy. Various
proposals for ending the schism were made, especially by the University of Paris, which suggested
either mutual resignation or a decision by an independent tribunal or a general council. This last
proposal was in line with the growing conciliar movement, according to which a general council has
greater authority than a pope. Both lines of popes refused to submit. Eventually cardinals from both
obediences, seeking to end the schism, arranged the Council of Pisa, which met in1409 and elected a
third pope, Alexander V, who is succeeded shortly thereafter by Baldassare Cossa, who took the
name John XXIII.Under pressure from the emperor Sigismund, John convoked, in 1414, the Council
of Constance, which deposed him, received the resignation of the Roman pope, Gregory XII, and
dismissed the claims of the Avignon pope, Benedict XIII. That series of event opened the way to the
election of Martin V in November 1417, whereby the schism was ended.
The root of almost every schism and heresy from which the
Christian Church has suffered, has been because of the effort of
men to earn, rather than receive their salvation; and the reason
preaching is so commonly
ineffective is, that it often calls on people to work for God
rather than letting God work through them.
John Ruskin
THE LIFE STORY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI AND SAINT DOMINIC
 Saint Francis of Assisi (Prayer of Peace) businessman and taught him about the
was a Catholic friar who gave up a life of French culture.
wealth to live a life of poverty.  About the age of nineteen Francis went to
 He established the Franciscan Order of battle against the nearby town of Perugia.
friars and the womens Order of the Poor Francis was captured and taken prisoner.
Ladies. He was held prisoner in a dungeon for a
 born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He grew up year before his father paid the ransom and
leading a privileged life as the son of a he was set free.
wealthy cloth merchant.  Over the next few years Francis began to
 Francis loved to learn and sing songs as a see visions from God that changed his life.
boy. His father wanted him to become a The first vision was when he was sick with a
high fever. At first he thought that God had
 called him to fight in the Crusades.
However, he had another vision that told
him to help the sick. Finally, when praying
in a church, Francis heard God tell him to
“repair my church, which is falling in
ruins.”
 Francis gave all his money to the church.
His father became very angry with him.
Francis then left his father’s home and took
a vow of poverty.
 As Francis lived his life of poverty and
preached to people about the life of Jesus
Christ, people began to follow him. By 1209,
he had 11 followers. He had one basic rule
which was “To follow the teaching of our
Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his
footsteps.”
 Francis was a devoted follower of the
Catholic Church. He and his followers
travelled to Rome to get the approval for
their religious Order from the pope. At first,
the pope was reluctant. These men were
dirty poor, and smelled bad. However,
eventually he understood their vow of
poverty and blessed the Order.
 The Franciscan Order grew as men joined
and made vows of poverty. When a
woman named Clare of Assisi wanted to
take similar vows, Francis helped her start
the Order of the Poor Ladies (Order of Saint
Clare). He also started another order (later
called the Third Order of Saint Francis)
that was for men and women who didn’t
take vows or leave their jobs, but lived
out the principals of the Franciscan Order
in their daily lives.
 Francis was known for his love of nature
and animals. There are many stories about
Saint Francis and his preaching to animals.
It is said that one day he was talking to
some birds when they began to sing
together. Then they flew into the sky and
formed the sign of a cross. It was also said
that Francis could tame wild animals. One
story tells of a vicious wolf in the town of
Gubbio that was killing people and sheep.
The people of the town were frightened and
didn’t know what to do. Francis went to
the town to confront the wolf. At first the
wolf growled at Francis and prepared to
attack him. However, Francis made the sign
of the cross and told the wolf not to hurt
anyone else. The wolf then became tame
and the town was safe.
 Francis became ill and spent the last few
years of his life mostly blind. He died in
1226 while singing Psalm 141. He was
declared saint of the Catholic Church only
two years after his death.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SAINT FRANCIS
OF ASSISI
 October 4th is observed as Saint Francis
feast day.
 It is said that he received the stigmata two
years before he died. This was the wounds
Christ from the cross including his hands,
feet, and side.
 Francis travelled to the Holy Lands during
the Crusades hoping to conquer the
Muslims with love rather than war.
 Francis set up the first known Nativity
scene to celebrate Christmas in 1220.
 He believed that actions were the best
example, telling his followers to “Preach
the Gospel at all times and when
necessary use words.”
THE LIFE STORY OF SAINT DOMINIC
 Saint Dominic was born into a rich, noble
Spanish family. But by the time he was 21,
he had sold everything he owned so that
 he could help feed the homeless
population of Spain.
 The founder of the Dominican Order was
friends with Saint Francis of Assisi. He
pursued a life of humility, poverty, and
obedience. When he died at the age of 51,
he turned to his followers and said,“Do not
weep, for I shall be more useful to you after
my death and I shall help you then more
effectively than during my life.”
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SAINT DOMINIC
 1. HIS MOTHER HAD A VISION ABOUT
DOMINIC BIRTH
Saint Dominic was born in 1170. His parents
were Felix Guzman and Juanna of Aza. Before
conceiving Dominic, the couple experienced
infertility. Juanna took a pilgrimage to the
Abbey at Silos, and there she received a
vision.In the vision, she saw a dog leap from her
womb. The dog was carrying a flaming torch
and Juaana said that the dog “seemed to set
the earth on fire.”Later in his life, Dominic went
on to found the Dominican order –
Dominicanus in the Latin translation. The order’
s name is seen on a play on words. Domini
Canisis Latin for “Dogs of the Lord.”Dominic’
s mother was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1828.
 2. HE SOLD HIS SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS FOR
MONEY TO DONATE TO THE POOR
When he grew up, Dominic was educated in
Palencia. He studied theology and the arts,
spending ten total years studying. He was
known as a fantastic student by his teachers.
When he was 21 years old, a famine struck
Spain, leaving many of Spain’s population out
on the streets with nothing to their name. In
response to seeing the poverty in the streets of
the city, Dominic sold everything he owned. He
sold the furniture out of his house and the
clothes off of his back.With the money he
received in exchange for his worldly
possessions, he bought food for the homeless
of Spain. Despite his love for his studies,
Dominic also sold his manuscripts that he used
to study. When his fellow students asked him
why he did not keep what he needed for his
education, he responded, “Would you have me
study from these dead skins when people are
dying of hunger?”
 3. A ROAD TRIP INTRODUCED HIM TO HIS
VOCATION
At 33, Dominic travelled with the Bishop of
Osma, Diego de Acebo. They were on a
diplomatic mission to find a bride for the crown
prince Ferdinand. Although the marriage
negotiations were successful, the princess
passed away before journeying back with the
envoy. However, on the trip with the bishop,
Dominic met the Albigensians (also known as
the Cathari). This heretical group believed that
any human matter was evil. As a result, they
denied the Incarnation. The group also took
little food and water, and practiced harsh fasts.
Christians who encountered the Albigensians
were impressed with their fasting and lifestyle.
Meanwhile, they saw Catholic priests and
preachers dressing in expensive clothing and
travelling in style. In response to the heresy,
Dominic realized that preachers who were truly
holy and humble could win over those who
believed in the Albigensian heresy.
 4. DOMINIC IS THE PATRON SAINT OF
ASTRONOMERS
Dominic is the patron saint of the Dominican
order and of those falsely accused, but he is
also the patron saint of astronomers. What does
this saint and those who study thestars have in
common?At Dominic’s baptism, his mother saw
a star shining on his chest. Often, artists depict
Dominic with stars.

 5. THE FOUNDER OF MODERN SCULPTURE
CARVED DOMINIC’S SHRINE
Dominic passed away to his Heavenly reward
when he was 51 years old.Author Jean Guiraud
wrote that Dominic was “exhausted with the
austerities and labors of his career.”His brother
monks lay him on the ground. Even when he
was dying, Dominic continued his preaching. He
told his brothers to be humble and to treasure
their poverty. After his death, his body was
moved to a simple coffin. Thirteen years after
his death, Pope Gregory IX canonized Dominic
in the year 1234. In 1267,Dominic body was
transferred to an official shrine, which was
carved by Nicola Pisano,an Italian sculptor who
was known for his classical Roman sculpture
styling.